Rear Gunner Robert Henry James Gill ~ DFM
19th May 1943 Posted to 158 Squadron at RAF Lissett from 1663 HCU RAF Rufforth
Lissett opened in February 1943 and No.158 Squadron arrived from RAF Rufforth to be the Resident Squadron on 28th February. 158 Squadron was a Heavy Bomber Squadron equipped with the 4-Engined Handley Page Halifax. The Squadron flew the 1st Operational Mission on the Night of 11/12th March 1943 when 10-Aircraft were Flown to Stuttgart. One Aircraft failed to return. The Squadron carried out Operations up to the end of the War from Lissett. Apart from a few weeks in early 1944, only 158 Squadron Operated out of the Station, which was unusual for an RAF-Base. Over the course of the 2-yrs 158 Squadron was Stationed there they completed 250-Missions, suffering the loss of 144-Aircraft, either destroyed in Combat or in Accidents. In addition, 851 of the Squadron’s Airmen were Lost in the War.
W/O ‘Bob’ Gill, (1923-2020) of 1663 HCU, 158 & 35 Squadrons – one of the last surviving Heroes from Bomber Command, died just a few weeks short of the 75th Anniversary of VE- Day. Flight Sergeant Robert ‘Bob’ Gill, from London, was awarded the DFM for his role in the Allied Bombing Campaign against Berlin’s War Machine having flown on 48- Operations when the odds of survival were in single figures for Rear Gunners. He was just 17 when he signed up to join the RAF while he was evacuated from London during the Blitz and became a Rear Gunner in Halifax & Lancaster Bombers – Britain’s Main Striking Force on German Industry. Flight Sergeant ‘Bob’ Gill was a ‘Tail-end Charlie’, the Rear Gunner in a Lancaster Bomber from 35 Squadron on the Nuremberg Raid in March 1944, a Pathfinder Unit whose job was to ‘Light the Way’. With the Distinguished Flying Medal to his name, the retired Surrey Accountant sums it up succinctly: ‘It was just a Disaster.’ Surveying the German Countryside from the Tail-end of a Lancaster that Night he would describe his Comrades’ Funeral Pyres stretching back 60-miles into the distance. By the time he was 21, Bob had flown 48 Missions over occupied Europe (Bob relished the Adventure & volunteered for a further Tour of 15 Missions after he had completed his Regulation 45-Operations (for Pathfinder Crews), He was Shot-down on the 3rd Added Mission). Having survived the Attack, he became a PoW and endured the deadly ‘Long March‘ away from the advancing Red Army in the Winter of 1945.
Known as a great Raconteur, he was one of 4-Veterans of Bomber Command who appeared on an ITV Documentary about the Air War against the Nazis. Sadly Bob did not live to see VE-Day marking 75-yrs since the end of War as he died aged 96 at the beginning of March.
Bob Gill’s 158-Squadron Crew
R121529 – Hardy, Archie Vernon (Pilot, DFC, DFM) RCAF – 39 Sorties with 35 Squadron
1268630 – Bates, H Robert (or M) (Wireless Operator) – 7 Sorties with 35 Squadron
658724 – Brooker, Bernard Chapman (Bomb Aimer, DFC & Bar) – 38 Sorties with 35 Squadron
935690 – Davies, Eric McHugh (Mid-Upper Gunner, DFC) – 32 Sorties with 35 Squadron
1333854 – Gill, Robert Henry James (Rear Gunner, DFM) – 32 Sorties with 35 Squadron
1270918 – Page, Arthur George (Flt Engineer, DFM) – 35 Sorties with 35 Squadron
1288666 – Walters, John Graham (Navigator, DFM) – 32 Sorties with 35 Squadron
During 1943 Intelligence Data & Photo-reconnaissance Images gathered by the British about the secret Research & Development work being conducted by the Germans at Peenemunde on the Baltic Coast, including Development of the V1 ‘Doodlebug’ Flying Bomb, the V2 long-range guided Ballistic Missile & Rocket-Powered Fighters, made the Site a Priority Target for RAF Bomber Command. Because Peenemunde was some 600-miles from the most easterly British Airfield, the earliest date when there would be sufficient cover of Darkness was mid-August. The Raid also needed to be carried out in bright Moonlight to improve accuracy & increase the chances of success. The Night of 17-18th August was set as the date for the Raid on Peenemunde.
Bomber Command War Diary – 17/18th August 1943 – The Peenemünde Raid
596 Aircraft – 324 Lancasters, 218 Halifaxes, 54 Stirlings. This was the 1st Raid in which 6 (Canadian) Group operated Lancaster Aircraft. 426 Squadron dispatched 9 Lancaster IIs, losing 2 Aircraft including that of the Squadron Commander, Wing Commander L Crooks, DSO, DFC. This was a special Raid which Bomber Command was ordered to carry out against the German Research Establishment on the Baltic Coast where V2 Rockets were being Built & Tested. The Raid was carried out in Moonlight to increase the chances of success. There were several novel features:- there was a Master Bomber controlling a full-scale Bomber Command Raid for the 1st time; There were 3 Aiming Points – the Scientists’ & Workers’ Living Quarters, the Rocket Factory and the Experimental Station; The Pathfinders employed a special plan with Crews designated as ‘Shifters’, who attempted to move the Marking from one part of the Target to another as the Raid progressed; Crews of No.5 Group; Bombing in the last Wave of the Attack, had practised the ‘Time-&-Distance’ Bombing Method as an alternative for their part in the Raid.
The Pathfinders found Peenemünde without difficulty in the Moonlight and the Master Bomber controlled the Raid successfully throughout. A Mosquito diversion to Berlin drew off most of the German Night-Fighters for the first 2 of the Raid’s 3-Phases. The estimate has appeared in many sources that this Raid set back the V-2 Experimental Programme by at least 2 months and reduced the Scale of the eventual Rocket Attacks.
The 1st Bombs began to fall on Peenemunde at 00:35 on 18th August. The Raid was successful to a degree, although Bombing was not as accurate as would have been ideal and most of the important German Scientists survived, with only 2 being Killed. Post-War research generally agrees that the Raid delayed the work at Peenemunde by about 2-months. To put that into perspective, once the V1 Flying Bombs began to be Launched against Britain from 13th June 1944, with the V2 Rockets following from 8th September 1944, they were Fired at an average rate of about 300-V1s & 230 V2s per month. The Missiles typically caused some 1,400 deaths per month in England, with over 3,500 people injured each month, so by setting the German Weapon Programme back by 2-months many lives were saved by the Bomber Command Raid on Peenemunde.
Bomber Command’s Losses were 40-Aircraft – 23-Lancasters, 15-Halifaxes & 2-Stirlings. This represents 6.7% of the Force dispatched but was judged an acceptable cost for the successful Attack on this important Target on a Moonlit Night. Most of the Casualties were suffered by the Aircraft of the Last Wave when the German Night Fighters arrived in Force. This was the 1st Night on which the Germans used their new Schräge Musik Weapons; these were Twin upward-Firing Cannons fitted in the Fuselage of Me110s. Two Schräge Musik Aircraft found the Bomber Stream Flying Home from Peenemünde and are believed to have Shot down 6 of the Bombers Lost on the Raid.
Coubronne Raid – Night of the 23rd / 24th June 1944
Recalling the Night he was Shot-down Bob said: ‘On the Night I was captured, we were Flying over the Belgian Coast near a place called Nieuport, only about 5-mins from the English Coast.’ As ‘Pathfinders‘ our job was to Mark & Light up the Target for the other Bombers then Circle until the Raid was over. ‘After over 40-Flights in the Tail, this time I was Flying as a Mid-upper Gunner. ‘Our Pilot decided to go back and take another look, Circled a couple times and we were Attacked. ‘German Fighters would Fly underneath our 4-Engine Bombers knowing that we had no downward visibility inside the Planes, then Fire into the Port Wing to hit the Petrol Tanks & Hydraulics (Schrage Musik). ‘The Rear Gunner’s Heavy Turret Door was trapped by the Air Pressure and he, along with the Pilot were Killed. ‘I struggled along the Aircraft’s narrow Gangway to the front of the Plane, flames behind me. ‘As I put my feet out of the Hatch, my Flying Boots went. I landed in a Field on the edge of Nieuport (Nieuwpoort). The Plane Exploded & Crashed into the River Estuary near Dunkirk.’ Climbing over a Fence on his way to the Road, Bob realised he was still in trouble. ‘I saw a couple of notices with ‘Achtung Minen’ printed on them and realised I had landed in a Minefield!’ Captured, Bob was taken to Frankfurt to be Interrogated and then transferred to the notorious Stalag Luft-7 PoW Camp near Krakow in Poland. With Russia’s Red Army advancing, Bob and over 1,000 other PoWs were forced on the ‘Long March‘, a bitter 3-week Forced March in deep snow to another Camp, Luckenwalde, close to Berlin. Many died. The Camp was finally Liberated by Russian Tanks and Bob was helped to escape by passing Americans who took him to their Base where he was ‘sprayed with DDT to kill off the Lice living cosily under my arms & lower regions’.
Long March: Evacuation from Stalag Luft 7 at Bankau, near Kreuzberg, Poland, begins in Blizzard conditions – 1,500 Prisoners were Forced Marched then loaded on Cattle Trucks and taken to Stalag III-A at Luckenwalde, South of Berlin.
February 1945 were among the coldest winter months of the 20thC, with Blizzards & Temperatures as low as -25°C (-13°F), and even until the middle of March, Temperatures were well below 0°C (32°F). Most of the PoWs were ill-prepared for the Evacuation, having suffered years of poor rations and wearing clothing ill-suited to the appalling Winter conditions. In most Camps, the PoWs were broken up into Groups of 250 to 300 men and because of the inadequate Roads and the flow of Battle, not all the Prisoners followed the same Route. The Groups would March 20-40 km each day – resting in Factories, Churches, Barns & even in the open-air. Soon long Columns of PoWs were wandering over the Northern part of Germany with little or nothing in the way of Food, Clothing, Shelter or Medical care. Prisoners from different Camps had different experiences: sometimes the Germans provided Farm Wagons for those unable to walk. There were seldom Horses available, so Teams of PoWs pulled the Wagons through the Snow. Sometimes the Guards & Prisoners became dependent on each other, other times the Guards became increasingly hostile. Passing through some Villages, the Residents would throw bricks & stones, and in others, they would share their last food. Some Groups of Prisoners were joined by German Civilians who were also fleeing from the Russians. Some who tried to escape or could not go on were shot by Guards. With so little food they were reduced to scavenging to survive. Some were reduced to eating dogs & cats — and even rats & grass — anything they could lay their hands on. Already underweight from years of Prison Rations, some were at half their pre-War body weight by the end. Because of the unsanitary conditions and a near-starvation diet, 100s of PoWs died along the way from exhaustion as well as Pneumonia, Diphtheria, Pellagra & other diseases. Typhus was spread by Body Lice. Sleeping outside on Frozen Ground resulted in Frostbite that in many cases required the amputation of extremities. In addition to these conditions were the dangers from Air Attack by Allied Forces mistaking the PoWs for retreating Columns of German Troops. At a Village called Gresse, 60 Allied PoWs died in a “Friendly-Fire” situation when strafed by a Flight of RAF Typhoons. As Winter drew to a close, suffering from the cold abated and some of the German Guards became less harsh in their treatment of PoWs. As the Columns reached the Western side of Germany they ran into the Advancing British & American Armies. For some, this brought Liberation. Others were not so lucky. They were marched towards the Baltic Sea, where Nazis were said to be using PoWs as Human Shields & Hostages.
It was later estimated that a large number of PoWs had marched over 500-miles by the time they were Liberated, and some had walked nearly a 1,000-miles.
Lancaster ND734 TL-H was one of 16 – 35 Squadron Aircraft detailed to attack Rocket Bases at Coubronne on the Night of the 23rd/24th June 1944. Its 8-man Crew comprised:
Squadron Leader G F H Ingram (116714), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
1658 Conversion Unit, RAF Riccall 9th February 1944
The Halifax Conversion Unit of 76 & 78 moved into Riccall in the September of 1942 in October they formally merged to form 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) and in the November they were joined by 158 Conversion Unit which reformed a C Flight 1658, this addition brought the unit up to full strength – 32 Halifax Aircraft.
Acting Flight Lieutenant George Francis Henry Ingram DFC, 10th August 1943 102 Squadron
Son of Frederick George Hubert Ingram, and of Elizabeth Anne Ingram, of Bungay, Suffolk. Died aged 22.
- S/L George Francis Henry Ingram, DFC (Pilot) – 22 Sorties with 35 Squadron from 9th February 1944
- V J Murphy (Navigator) – 22 Sorties with S/L H F Ingram
- G W Rushbrook (Bomb Aimer) – 22 Sorties with S/L H F Ingram
- M J Spencer (2nd Bomb Aimer) – 7 Sorties with S/L H F Ingram
- S Jackson (Wireless Operator) – 22 Sorties with S/L H F Ingram
- R H J Gill (Mid-upper Gunner, DFM) – 6 Sorties with S/L H F Ingram 35 Squadron
- Douglas Alfred (Punch) Weatherill (Rear Gunner) – 22 Sorties with S/L H F Ingram
- D B Gerrard (Flight Engineer) – 20 Sorties with S/L H F Ingram
The Route was: Bradwell, North Foreland, Lattice B 10.65 (Eastern Chain), Target, 5045N 0228E, 5105N 0230E, Orfordness. ND734 failed to return and the Squadron’s Operations Record Book (ORB) shows “This Aircraft is missing, nothing being heard from it after Take-off”
Wartime Activities Relating to the Loss
On 24th June 1944 35 Squadron informed Bomber Command, the Air Ministry and the RAF Records Office that the TL-H Aircraft & Crew were missing. A Telegram, along with a follow-up letter from the Commanding Officer, was sent to the next of Kin of each Crew Member advising them that he was “missing as the result of Air Operations on 23rd/24th June 1944”. The Crew’s Kit & Personal belongings were removed from their Lockers & catalogued; Kit was returned to the Station Stores & Personal Belongings sent to the Central Depository at RAF Colnbrook.
The Air Ministry Casualty Branch, which was responsible for Investigating, Monitoring & Reporting on the Status of Missing Aircraft & Airmen, subsequently published the following information regarding the Crew:
- Air Ministry Casualty Communique No.435 (Flight 19/10/1944) reported S/L George Francis Henry Ingram & Douglas Alfred Weatherill DFC as “Missing”
- Air Ministry Casualty Communique No.556 (Flight 27/12/1945) reported G F H Ingram & D A Weatherill “previously reported Missing” as “now presumed Killed in Action” (KIA)
Note: Presumption of Death enabled a Death Certificate to be issued; Personal Belongings could then be sent to next of Kin, along with any Monies due.
No.35 Squadron’s Operations Record Book (ORB) shows the following Information was received relating to the Crew:-
- 28/07/1944: Information received from the Air Ministry that V J Murphy, Missing on 23rd / 24th June 1944, was Killed
- 22/08/1944: Information received from the Air Ministry that V J Murphy, Missing on 23rd / 24th June 1944, was not dead, but a Prisoner of War
- 15/09/1944: Information received from the Air Ministry that V J Murphy, G W Rushbrook, S Jackson, R H J Gill & D B Gerrard, Missing on 23rd/24th June 1944, are Prisoners of War
- 30/10/1944: Information received from the Air Ministry that M J Spencer, missing on 23rd/24th June 1944, is a Prisoner of War
Crew Members who Survived the Crash & Captured / Imprisoned
V J Murphy, G W Rushbrook, M J Spencer, S Jackson, R H J Gill & D B Gerrard Survived the Crash and were Captured, Interrogated & Iimprisoned for the remainder of the War. Their PoW Liberation Questionnaires, which were completed as part of the Repatriation Process at 106 Personnel Reception Centre (RAF Cosford) in 1945, show the following details:-
- V J Murphy(POW Liberation Questionnaire yet to be obtained, so information is unconfirmed)
- Captured:
- Imprisoned: Stalag Luft III, Sagan
- Repatriated:
- G W Rushbrook
- Captured Nr Dixmude 24th June 1944
- Imprisoned: Stalag Luft III, Sagan Jul-44 to Jan-45
- Imprisoned: Marlag Nord, Tarmstedt Feb-45 to Apr-45
- Repatriated: May-45
- M J Spencer
- Captured: Nr Ostende 24th June 1944 (Fractured Arm)
- Hospitalised: St Gilles, Brussels June-44 to August-44
- Imprisoned: Stalag Luft III, Sagan Sep-44 to Feb-45
- Imprisoned: Stalag XIII-D, Nürnberg Feb 45 to May-45
- Repatriated: May-45
- S Jackson
- Captured: Nieupoort 24th June 1944
- Imprisoned: Stalag Luft VII, Bankau Jul-44 to Jan-45
- Imprisoned: Stalag IIIA, Luckenwalde Feb-45 to May-45
- Repatriated: May-45
- R H Gill
- Captured Ostend 24th June 1944
- Imprisoned: Stalag Luft VII, Bankau Jul-44 to Jan-45
- Imprisoned: Stalag IIIA, Luckenwalde Feb-45 to May-45
- Repatriated: May-45
- D B Gerrard
- Captured: Newpoort 24th June 1944
- Imprisoned: Stalag Luft VII, Bankau Jul-44 to Jan-45
- Imprisoned: Stalag IIIA, Luckenwalde Feb-45 to May-45
- Repatriated: May-45
Post War Search for the Missing Crew Members
After the War, an Investigation Officer from the RAF Missing Research & Enquiry Service (MRES) was tasked with locating the remains of the Missing Crew Member(s). Original German Documents, Burial Records & Eye Witness accounts were utilised to establish the location of the Crash Site, the cause of the loss and the initial fate of the Crew; information was recorded in a MRES Investigation Report. As part of the process, any remains that were located were exhumed, identified (wherever possible) & concentrated (reinterred) at one of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Cemeteries in the Country that they Fell, in accordance with Government Policy at the time.
Graves were marked with a simple wooden Cross, which was replaced by the familiar CWGC Headstone during the 1950s.
Missing Airmen who could not be found, or formally identified, had their names Commemorated on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede, which was unveiled in 1953.
CWGC Records show that the remains of Pilot G F H Ingram were not found, or could not be formally identified and, as such, his name is Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial as follows:
Ingram, George Francis Henry Squadron Leader ‘116714’ Runnymede Memorial Panel 200.
CWGC Records do not show where the remains of Rear Gunner D A Weatherill were located but show that they were concentrated (reinterred) at Coxyde Military Cemetery, Belgium as follows:
Weatherill, Douglas Alfred Flying Officer ‘148094’ Grave VI. J1
Additional Information – Theo Boiten (01/01/2017)
3-possible Night Fighter Claims:
Josef Krahforst, 2./NJG4, St Omer-Ypres area (NE-NF), 3000m, 01.10hrs
Werner Husemann, Stab I./NJG3, St Omer-Ypres area (NE-NF), 3700m, 01.15hrs
Manfred Scheunpflug, Stab I./NJG3, St Omer-Ypres area (NE-NF), 3600m, 01.20hrs
Bomber Command Loss Card
The Bomber Command Loss Card shows “Shot down by Night Fighter below unseen over Dunkirk at 11,000ft. Aircraft on Fire in Air; Aircraft Abandoned in Air. Cause of loss due Fire; Aircraft Destroyed; Target Bombed”
On Friday, 23rd June 1944, the Aircraft of the 35 Squadron (RAF), took off for a Mission to Coubronne, Ecques in France from RAF Graveley. One of the Crew Members was Flight Lieutenant G W Rushbrook (Bomb Aimer). He departed for his Mission at 23:44hrs. He flew with an Avro Lancaster (Type III, with Serial ND734 and code TL-H). His Mission and of the other Crew Members was planned for Saturday, 24th June 1944.
Douglas Alfred (Punch) Weatherill, DFC (Flying as Rear Gunner) on the return Flight from a Mission to Coubronne Night of the 23rd/24th June 1944, in Lancaster III, ND734 TL-H, Piloted by Squadron Leader Ingram DFC to Mark a V1 Site, the Crew was Shot-down from 11,000-ft by a Night-Fighter in the vicinity of Dunkerque.
Both the Pilot & Weatherill where Killed, whilst the remaining 6-Members of the Crew were taken PoW;
Flying Officer Weatherill was 22-yrs-old.
Douglas Alfred (Punch) Weatherill joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1942 and following his Training, he was posted for Operational Flying as a Mid-Upper Gunner to 158 Squadron which Flew with Halifax’s. The Squadron was partially engaged for Operations with Coastal Command and Weatherill Flew in his 1st Anti-Submarine Patrol in November 1942. Subsequently, the Squadron was relocated & resumed Operations with Bomber Command. Weatherill flew to Mannheim on 6th December 1942. Weatherill went on to Fly another 27–Operational Sorties with the Squadron, including: Lorient (4), Turin, Essen (2), Nuremburg, Stuttgart (2).
On the return Flight from a Mission to Coubronne, in Lancaster III ND734 TL-H, Piloted by Squadron Leader Ingram DFC to Mark a V1 Site, the Crew was shot down from 11,000-ft by a Night-Fighter in the vicinity of Dunkerque; both the Pilot & Weatherill were Killed, whilst the remaining 6-Members of the Crew who Baled out were taken PoW;
Flying Officer Weatherill was 22-yrs-old.
Promotions:
? Sergeant
30th June 1943: Pilot Officer (Probation/Emergency)
30th December 1943: Flying Officer (Probation/War Substantive)
Awarded DFC 23rd November 1943
Commendation: “On the Night of the 31st August 1943, this Officer was Mid-Upper Gunner in an Aircraft detailed to Attack Berlin. Whilst over the Target the Aircraft was attacked by 3-Enemy Night Fighters. On the 1st Attack, the Rear Turret was rendered unserviceable. P/O Weatherill then took over the (Gunnery) Fire Control, gave his Pilot Evasive Action and succeeded in avoiding the Enemy’s Fire whilst damaging one of the Attacking Aircraft, which was probably Destroyed. The safe return of the Aircraft was undoubtedly due to this Officer’s promptitude in taking over the (Gunnery) Fire Control. In addition, he has now completed 28-Operational Sorties against such heavily defended Targets as Essen, Mannheim, Duisburg, Stettin, Nuremberg & 3 to Berlin, on which he has proved himself to be a Gunner of outstanding qualities, and on many occasions, his prompt & accurate Fire against Enemy Night Fighters has been responsible for the success of the Sortie and the Safe Return of the Aircraft & Crew.
Remarks of Station Commander:
A particularly fine piece of work, which there can be no doubt resulted in the Aircraft not only Bombing its Objective but returning to its Base to Fight again another day. This example typified this Officer’s outstanding Operational Career in which he showed magnificent qualities of Courage, Determination & Devotion to Duty. He is very strongly recommended for the Immediate Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.”
Post-War: After a few short months back in Britain, Bob Gill returned to Europe, 1st to Brussels and then Berlin, as part of the RAF’s Occupation Force, where he took part in the Berlin Airlift that kept the City supplied during the 1948 Soviet Blockade. There he met & married Mary, a Secretary in the Foreign Office who took the Minutes of the International Meetings between the 4 Wartime Allies – Great Britain, France, the USA & the Soviet Union. The couple went on to have 3 children & 5 grandchildren. Bob recalled: ‘I fell in love with the City [Berlin] that I had Bombed 6 times & spent almost 4 very happy years there.
The son of a Bookmaker, Bob trained as an Accountant and worked for a Shipping Company and later for Lloyds Bank in the City of London, where he was Manager until he retired aged 62. However, throughout his life, he remained close to the RAF, as Secretary of the Air Crew Association, Treasurer of the RAF Association Club at Kenley Airfield and raising money for the Soldiers, Sailors & Airmen Families Association [SSAFA]. ‘He went to lots of RAF Dinners,’ said his daughter Jo. ‘He was invited to Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace because of his Services to Charity. ‘He had a lot of old friends from the War most of which died before him.’ She added: ‘He was the sort of Character that you thought would never die. He was my Hero and the grandchildren’s Hero.’ Flight Sergeant Bob Gill, DFM, died aged 96, on 3rd March, after a short illness.
RAF Graveley ORB: The Squadron’s Operations Record Book shows “Lancaster ND734 (with a different Crew Composition) made a normal Landing following a Raid on Essen 27th April 1944 and was almost Stationary on the Runway when a Mosquito of No.692 Squadron, Landing without R/T and with very poor lighting, collided with it, Killing the Mid-upper Gunner, W E Crawford and dangerously injuring the Tail Gunner, T Nainby.
Mosquito Aircraft ML977 on return from Operational Sortie crashed into Tail of Lancaster TL-H. The Pilot & Navigator of the Mosquito sustained only a few bruises but Sgt Crawford, Mid-Upper Gunner of the Lancaster died from injuries sustained in the Wreckage & Sgt Nainby, Rear Gunner, was very seriously Injured. He was admitted to Huntingdon County Hospital forthwith & transferred to RAF General Hospital, Ely when fit to travel 36-hrs later.
AM Form 1180 – shows “Aircraft finishing Landing Run was Struck by Mosquito ND977 which Landed behind. Slight blame to this Pilot for not having downward Identity Lights on.
AM Form 78 – shows that the Aircraft was repaired On-site by AV Roe Personnel and returned to the Squadron on 27th May 1944.
Pathfinder Craig 